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The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he lived as his ancestor David had lived when he first became king. Jehoshaphat did not ask for help from the Baal idols,

He wanted very much to obey the Lord . He also removed the places for worshiping gods and the Asherah idols from Judah.

Jehoshaphat grew more and more powerful. He built strong, walled cities and towns for storing supplies in Judah.

And Jehozabad had one hundred eighty thousand men armed for war.

Jehoshaphat said to them, "Watch what you do, because you are not judging for people but for the Lord . He will be with you when you make a decision.

"Amariah, the leading priest, will be over you in all cases about the Lord . Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader in the tribe of Judah, will be over you in all cases about the king. Also, the Levites will serve as officers for you. Have courage. May the Lord be with those who do what is right."

The people of Judah came together to ask the Lord for help; they came from every town in Judah.

They lived in this land and built a Temple for you. They said,

But see how they repay us for not destroying them! They have come to force us out of your land, which you gave us as our own.

Our God, punish those people. We have no power against this large army that is attacking us. We don't know what to do, so we look to you for help."

As they began to sing and praise God, the Lord set ambushes for the people of Ammon, Moab, and Edom who had come to attack Judah. And they were defeated.

Jehoshaphat ruled over the country of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

After he was sick for two years, Jehoram's intestines came out because of the disease, and he died in terrible pain. The people did not make a fire to honor Jehoram as they had done for his ancestors.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem. No one was sad when he died. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the graves for the kings.

Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah. Jehu's men caught him hiding in Samaria, so they brought him to Jehu. Then they killed and buried him. They said, "Ahaziah is a descendant of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord with all his heart." No one in Ahaziah's family had the power to take control of the kingdom of Judah.

He hid with them in the Temple of God for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land.

Then Jehoiada chose the priests, who were Levites, to be responsible for the Temple of the Lord . David had given them duties in the Temple of the Lord . They were to offer the burnt offerings to the Lord as the Teachings of Moses commanded, and they were to offer them with much joy and singing as David had commanded.

Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and Joash had sons and daughters.

So King Joash called for Jehoiada the leading priest and said to him, "Why haven't you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax money that Moses, the Lord 's servant, and the people of Israel used for the Holy Tent?"

In the past the sons of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God and used its holy things for worshiping the Baal idols.